APU Business Careers Careers & Learning

Use the Buzz Words

buzz word

By Robert Gordon
Program Director, Reverse Logistics Management at American Public University

While I was working at Disney, I met many people who had great ideas. However, there was one person that I met there that stood out from the crowd.

He had worked for the company since he was a young boy. He had worked in a variety of roles throughout the company, but I think he missed his first job at Disneyland the most. Tom was hired by Walt Disney and had been with the company for his entire working life.

I had the chance to ask him one day, what some of the most important things in business were. He responded first that the most important thing to remember was to “use the buzz words.”

What Tom was telling me, a young manager, was that an important aspect of a successful career was staying current. One has to remain current with the trends and the business lingo of the time.

Keeping up with trends, competition, and consumer demands are all important. Using the buzz words is not about being faddish, it is about keeping up with the latest developments in a field.

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Tom’s advice has stuck with me for decades. Looking back upon it, he was as right then as he is today. If there is something that I would like to impart to any manager, is that one needs to remain current in the lingo of their field and to remain current with the trends in business.

Read business newspapers and journals. Attend conferences and other events. Work on a certification or earn another degree. Never stop learning.

Knowing the buzz words will help you in the work you do today and also prepare you for your next role.

About the Author: Dr. Robert Lee Gordon is the program director for the Reverse Logistics Management department at American Public University. Dr. Gordon has over 25 years of professional experience in supply chain management and human resources. Dr. Gordon earned his Doctorate of Management and Organizational Leadership and his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix as well earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from UCLA.

 

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